Arlo James

See what it's like to be a vulture's lunch

It was one of the few times in his life where he hadn't actually been the cause of the problem. For once, Arlo had been entirely minding his own business. The vampire far more focused on just how he was going to explain to Mi that he really didn't need her to keep making him dinner. Even despite the woman's reluctant acceptance of his vampiric status she continued to insist on attempting to feed him a regular dinner every single night. It wasn't as if he couldn't eat it, exactly, more so he simply just didn't want it, hell, he didn't need it and yet for some reason the woman kept trying to encourage him as if she somehow thought three meals a day might reverse his very species. It was nice of her, he supposed. No one had cooked him anything since, well, the whole vampire thing had happened and his Mother had thrown him out of the house and yet really- he was running out of excuses as to why he didn't want yet another pot roast or a stew or even pizza. His Maker had told him, once, that he'd eventually enjoy those human foods again just like he had before he'd been undead and yet for now they all tasted bland to him. His stomach often initialising some sort of revolt in the wake off to much of that human food. Maybe if he ate a little of it that would keep her happy and he wouldn't have to keep pretending he didn't like certain ingredients in it.

His head shook softly, his feet scuffing against that pavement as he headed towards home. Maybe Abby would be waiting for him tonight. The idea of that red-haired woman stole that crooked grin to his lips. God he was keen on her and yet he was so fucking hopeless he truly doubted she had any idea at all. He'd have to talk to Sebastian about that, after all, the guy had promised to help him and really, so far, Seb had been pretty good at assisting- even if it was only letting Arlo feed from him. Arlo convinced beyond all doubt that Sebastian was some sort of holy-grail of blood. Getting hold of the guy of late was difficult though, not that he was truly surprised. The news of his engagement to the very King of Italy seemed to be on the front page of every paper. Getting near their house was damn near impossible. Maybe he'd just leave him a text message. He was so entirely caught up within his own thoughts then that he hardly noticed he was being followed. At least not immediately. Arlo travelling halfway down that next street before the scent of vampire seemed to catch his attention. Arlo, of all beings, decidedly sensitive to that scent alone. His tongue brushed across his right fang in some instinctive anticipation of a meal and yet the more he focused on that scent the more he became aware that it wasn't one vampire. Hell, it wasn't even two. It was...a group.

"Damn."

The word was muttered near under his breath, one hand lifting to run through that near black hair as his pace quickened just a little, Arlo daring to glance briefly back behind him to see no less then four vampire trailing after him, three men and a single woman lingering further on the outside. Arlo hardly foolish enough not to know he was being herded and yet- he had little intention of going the way they wanted. That affinity for teleportation readily embraced. Arlo abruptly disappearing only to reappear a few streets away. What the fuck had they wanted? He'd paid back every single one of those debts he'd owed, hell, he didn't even remember borrowing money from any Covens in this city. Arlo leaning back against that nearest wall a moment, the man about to step back out and onto the street when that female vampire suddenly appeared no more than three feet away. Huh. Another teleporter. Well- his legs worked just as well. Arlo entirely content to employ them, after all, wasn't that the name he'd earned for himself halfway across the country? Arlo the Coward. Arlo the Runner. His preference for flight over fight entirely well known it seemed and yet the woman, in the least, clearly hadn't expected him to take off so fast. Arlo near bolting down that next street. So many years at the hands of so many others readily having taught the Crusnik that it was better not to find out what they wanted.

He was vaguely aware of that woman whistling, the young vampire already sure the rest of her coven was surely coming. Vampires terribly fast bastards when they wanted to be. Arlo blatantly unaware of where he was running at all as he tore past that string of restaurants- one of those men hot on his heels. It had been at least a day since his last meal, Arlo hardly at full strength or speed for that matter and yet- somehow- he was outrunning the rest of them all the same. At least until he near collided with that other teleporter, the pair of them tumbling to the ground in an orchestra of shouts. Arlo scrambling to his feet just in time for someone grab the back off his jacket and haul him backwards. This guy was seriously big for a vampire and yet Arlo was sure he'd never seen him before. He'd remember a man with long dark hair tied back like that.

"Er....can I help you?"

The man hardly moved, that grip tightening on his shirt all the same with that clear intention of keeping Arlo right where he was. God, what had he done? Those other two men catching up then before that teleporting woman pushed past them to stand in front of him. "You think you can feed from my Coven and get away with it? You think we are your prey?"

"Ummm, what do you want to hear?"

"Smartass."The word was near a hiss under her breath, her own fangs bared then. The rest of that coven shifting to stand beside her then, Arlo almost sure he could feel his heart pounding in his chest. Alright, maybe he had fed off someone in their coven and yet really as far as he was concerned whoever that was had likely been stupid enough to walk into one of his traps. "I am going to rip your fangs out of your head, you think you can treat us like prey? There is a reason your species is on its way to extinction." that first note of agitation finding Arlo then.

"Why don't you just piss off?"

"Maybe we could keep him, Claire? I mean think of the-"The sudden sound of another a voice interrupted then. All those vampires turning to look towards Damon. Arlo mostly sure he'd never been happier to see that angry, temperamental jerk then he was right now. He was like a well-dressed saviour. That other coven hardly seeming to think so. That woman rounding on Damon then. It's none of your business. This isn't your territory. We were just....inviting Arlo to join us. That singular distraction from Damon was all Arlo truly needed, the man hardly wanting to hear the end of that offer. Arlo wrenched himself free of that man's grip only to sink his fangs into the fellow's shoulder like a feral dog. That yelp of pain saw the man stumble back, his hand lifting with the clear intention of backhanding that younger vampire and yet- Arlo's venom was decidedly potent on other vampires. Arlo designed to bring them down. The man barely taking another step before collapsing onto the concrete. That feral hiss spat from that woman in response surely the beginning of that all-out brawl that was about to come. Arlo managing an almost hesitant wave in Damon's direction that he was fairly sure had a 'please-don't-leave-me' element attached.

"Hey, bud."